Maya
/maʝa/from spelling rules
The English word 'Maya' corresponds to the Spanish noun Maya, referring to the Maya civilization.
Maya is used to refer to the Maya civilization.
Meaning: civilization (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adjective, maya must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, such as cultura maya or pueblos mayas. The plural form of the noun is mayas.
How do you pronounce it?
/maʝa/
Did you know?
- The word maya is also used in Spanish to describe a specific species of small bird native to the Philippines, borrowed from Tagalog.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the word maya can be confused with maya referring to a mesh or screen, though they are spelled the same.
- In Spanish, the term maya can refer to the civilization, but it is also the name of a specific language family containing over thirty distinct languages.
Examples in context
- El toki pona dispone de un sistema de escritura que se asemeja visualmente al de los glifos mayas.Toki Pona has a writing system that visually resembles Maya glyphs.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the word Maya in relation to writing systems.Tatoeba #10199737 by Seael, translation #13618819 by araneo
- La Abeja Maya no es una historia polaca ¿sabes? Fue escrita en Alemania, animada en Japón y traducida al polaco.Maya the Bee isn't a Polish cartoon, you know that? It was written in Germany, animated in Japan, and was translated into the Polish language.This sentence uses Maya as part of a proper name in a different context.Tatoeba #7842500 by Seael, translation #2720749 by shekitten
- "Ich" es una palabra común tanto en alemán como en maya yucateco, con significados y pronunciaciones diferentes aunque con traducciones que en inglés suenan exactamente igual."Ich" is a common word in both German and Yucatec Maya, with different meanings and pronunciations, but with English translations that sound exactly the same.This sentence illustrates the use of maya when discussing the Yucatec Maya language.Tatoeba #11848203 by Seael, translation #13077531 by araneo
- Oye, ¿dónde está Maya?Hey, where is Maya?
Example conversation
María and Javier are at a museum visiting an exhibit.
- MaríaEsta reliquia es de la civilización Maya.This relic is from the Maya civilization.
- JavierEs increíble ver tanto arte Maya aquí.It is incredible to see so much Maya art here.
- MaríaJavier, ¿conoces más sobre la cultura Maya?Javier, do you know more about Maya culture?
- JavierNo mucho, pero quiero aprender más.Not much, but I want to learn more.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
